Clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA sequencing with a large panel: a National Center for Precision Medicine (PRISM) study.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing is a promising approach for tailoring therapy in patients with cancer. We report hereby the results from a prospective study where we investigated the impact of comprehensive molecular profiling of ctDNA in patients with advanced solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Genomic analysis was performed using the FoundationOne Liquid CDx Assay [324 genes, tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability status]. Each individual genomic report was reviewed and discussed weekly by a multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB). Actionable targets were classified by ESMO Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets (ESCAT) tier leading to molecular-based treatment suggestions wherever it was possible. RESULTS: Between December 2020 and November 2021, 1772 patients with metastatic solid tumors underwent molecular profiling. Median time to assay results was 12 days. Results were contributive for 1658 patients (94%). At least one actionable target was detected in 1059 patients (64%) with a total of 1825 actionable alterations including alteration of the DNA damage repair response pathway (n = 336, 18%), high TMB (>16 mutations/Mb; n = 243, 13%), PIK3CA mutations (n = 150, 8%), ERBB family pathway alterations (n = 127, 7%), PTEN alterations (n = 95, 5%), FGFR alterations (n = 67, 4%) and MET activations (n = 13, 0.7%). The MTB recommended a matched therapy for 597 patients (56%) with a total of 819 therapeutic orientations: clinical trials (n = 639, 78%), off-label/compassionate use (n = 81, 10%), approved drug (n = 51, 6%), and early access program (n = 48, 6%). In total, 122 patients (21%) were treated. Among the assessable patients (n = 107), 4 (4%) had complete response, 35 (33%) had partial response, 27 (25%) had stable disease, and 41 (38%) a progressive disease as best response. The median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 4.7 months (95% confidence interval 2.7-6.7 months) and 8.3 months (95% confidence interval 4.7-11.9 months) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ctDNA sequencing with a large panel is an efficient approach to match patients with advanced cancer with targeted therapies.

Cytochrome P-450-mediated herb and food-drug interactions can be identified in cancer patients through patient self-reporting with a tablet application: results of a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of herbs, food used as medicine and dietary supplements (HFDSs) is common in cancer patients. Herbs and food-drug interactions (HFDIs) can lead to serious adverse effects and can be prevented. We previously reviewed cytochrome P-450 (CYP)-mediated HFDI for 261 HFDSs and we classified the risk of CYP inhibition and induction on a level of evidence scale from 1 (high evidence, supported by several clinical studies) to 5 (low evidence, only limited preclinical data). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, non-interventional study (NCT04128865) to assess whether self-assessment of patients could detect HFDI classified as 'probable' (i.e. level 1, 2 or 3 of the scale) in a population of cancer patients. Patients were invited through a tablet application to report their consumption of herbs, regular CYP-interacting food consumption and dietary supplements, as well as some clinical data and cancer treatments. The patient's completion of the survey could be supervised by a health care professional or not. A prespecified threshold of 5% of HFDIs classified as 'probable' detected with the application was deemed relevant. RESULTS: Between 29 March 2018 and 22 June 2018, 143 patients completed the survey. Ninety-five patients (66%) reported at least one current systemic cancer treatment and were included in the analyses. Seventy-four patients reported an intake of at least one HFDS (77.9%), while 21 patients reported no HFDS (22.1%). Twenty-two HFDIs classified as 'probable' were found in 16 patients (16.8%) with the application, which was significantly superior to the prespecified threshold (P = 0.02). The interactions were reported with food (n = 19, 86%) more frequently than with herbs (n = 3, 14%) or with dietary supplements (no interaction reported). CONCLUSIONS: Self-assessment of HFDS interaction with cancer treatment with an application is feasible and should be considered in daily routine. Prospective interventional studies should be conducted to better assess the clinical benefits of this approach.

Association of cabozantinib pharmacokinetics, progression and toxicity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: results from a pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics study.

BACKGROUND: Cabozantinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with a substantial efficacy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and is associated with a challenging toxicity profile leading to frequent drug discontinuations. Whereas an exposure/safety relationship was demonstrated for this drug, an exposure/efficacy relationship is still unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a monocentric, observational, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) study in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (INDS MR 5612140520). We used measured blood concentrations of cabozantinib (Cmeas) to determine the area under the curve (AUC), apparent clearance (Cl/F) and residual blood concentration (Ctrough). Best overall response according to RECIST 1.1 and relevant toxicity (adverse event grade 3-4 or grade 2 requiring dose reduction or discontinuation) were assessed according to Cmeas, Ctrough, AUC and Cl/F. RESULTS: We enrolled 76 patients, including 35 who experienced disease progression and 30 with grade 3-4 toxicity. Patients with progressive disease had a significantly lower median Ctrough (406 versus 634 ng/ml, P = 0.001), Cl/F (2 versus 2.9 l/h, P = 0.002) and AUC (16 versus 20 µg h/ml, P = 0.037) compared with patients who had disease control as best response. Patients with relevant toxicity had a significantly higher Cmeas (732 versus 531 ng/ml, P = 0.006), Ctrough (693 versus 521 ng/ml, P = 0.005) and AUC (21 versus 16 µg h/ml, P = 0.046) compared with patients who did not experience any grade relevant toxicity. Receiver operating characteristic curves obtained from our study defined a threshold for drug efficacy of 536.8 ng/ml and of 617.7 ng/ml for toxicity. CONCLUSION: We first demonstrate the PK/PD relationship for cabozantinib. Severe toxicities are associated with a higher drug exposure, whereas inefficacy is associated with a lower drug exposure. Cabozantinib plasma drug monitoring may be useful to optimize clinical practice.

Fast imaging system on Tore Supra.

A new endoscope aiming at transferring the image of a poloidal section of the Tore Supra plasma to a fast camera able to record frames at a speed up to 4800 frames per second at full resolution, or much faster for a limited number of pixel, has been installed on Tore Supra. First movies showing the light emission associated to fast phenomena such as plasma start up, disruptions or gas and pellet injections have been produced.

[Waist circumference, dyslipidemia and hypertension in prepubertal children]. / Circunferencia de cintura, dislipidemia e hipertensión arterial en prepúberes de ambos sexos.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between anthropometric variables, lipid concentrations and blood pressure in a sample of prepubertal children and to asses the importance of waist circumference in identifying certain cardiovascular risk factors in this age group. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of a random sample of prepubertal children aged 2 to 9 years old was performed. Height, weight, triceps skinfold, body mass index, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose were determined. RESULTS: A total of 240 prepubertal children were studied. There were 123 (51.3 %) boys and 117 (48.8 %) girls. The prevalence of overweight, high blood pressure and insulin-resistance syndrome was 16.6 %, 3.7 % and 1.2 %, respectively. Triceps skinfold and fat mass were significantly higher in girls. There were no significant differences in lipid profiles between obese children and those with a healthy weight. Waist circumference had a positive and significant correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Furthermore, waist circumference was also associated with a greater risk of elevated values of total cholesterol, triglycerides and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Waist circumference may be a helpful parameter in identifying prepubertal children with an adverse lipid profile and hypertension.

Circunferencia de cintura, dislipidemia e hipertensión arterial en prepúberes de ambos sexos / Waist circumference, dyslipidemia and hypertension in prepubertal children

Introducción. El objetivo del presente estudio fue explorar las relaciones entre diferentes variables antropométricas, lípidos plasmáticos y presión arterial, además de establecer específicamente la relevancia de la circunferencia de cintura para identificar algunos factores de riesgo cardiovascular en prepúberes. Material y métodos. Estudio de corte transversal, que incluyó prepúberes de ambos sexos, de 2 a 9 años, seleccionados al azar de la población de un sistema de cobertura de salud prepago. Las variables analizadas fueron: peso, talla, pliegue tricipital, índice de masa corporal, circunferencia de cintura, presión arterial sistólica y diastólica, triglicéridos, colesterol total, lipoproteínas de alta densidad, lipoproteínas de baja densidad y glucemia. Resultados. Se estudiaron 240 sujetos, 123 niños (51,3%) y 117 niñas (48,8%). La prevalencia de sobrepeso fue de 16,6 %, la de hipertensión arterial de 3,7 % y la de síndrome metabólico de 1,2 %. El pliegue tricipital y la masa grasa fueron significativamente más elevados en las niñas. No se observaron disimilitudes de importancia en las lipoproteínas plasmáticas entre los sujetos con sobrepeso y los normales. La circunferencia de cintura se correlacionó positiva y significativamente con las lipoproteínas de alta densidad, la presión arterial sistólica y diastólica, mostró además, una tendencia para identificar a los sujetos con mayor riesgo de presentar valores elevados de colesterol total, triglicéridos e hipertensión arterial. Conclusiones. La circunferencia de cintura podría ser un parámetro útil para identificar prepúberes con riesgo de dislipidemia e hipertensión arterial

Objective. To explore the relationship between anthropometric variables, lipid concentrations and blood pressure in a sample of prepubertal children and to asses the importance of waist circumference in identifying certain cardiovascular risk factors in this age group. Methods. A cross-sectional analysis of a random sample of prepubertal children aged 2 to 9 years old was performed. Height, weight, triceps skinfold, body mass index, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose were determined. Results. A total of 240 prepubertal children were studied. There were 123 (51.3 %) boys and 117 (48.8 %) girls. The prevalence of overweight, high blood pressure and insulin-resistance syndrome was 16.6 %, 3.7 % and 1.2 %, respectively. Triceps skinfold and fat mass were significantly higher in girls. There were no significant differences in lipid profiles between obese children and those with a healthy weight. Waist circumference had a positive and significant correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Furthermore, waist circumference was also associated with a greater risk of elevated values of total cholesterol, triglycerides and hypertension. Conclusion. Waist circumference may be a helpful parameter in identifying prepubertal children with an adverse lipid profile and hypertension

Investigation of current-density modification during magnetic reconnection by analysis of hydrogen-pellet deflection.

A pellet penetrating the inner region of a tokamak discharge, where the safety factor drops below unity, triggers an instability analogous to a sawtooth crash. Because of the simultaneity of the crash and pellet crossing, the latter is an appropriate probe for investigating the current distribution during reconnection. In this Letter, pellet deflection is used to characterize the associated electron distribution function. The perturbation compatible with the observed trajectory requires a negative current layer on the q=1 magnetic surface between 3 and 12 times the equilibrium current density and an expulsion of high energy electrons from the plasma core.